Cub
Scout Opening Ceremonies

Following
are a series of opening ceremonies, most useful to start Pack meetings
or special award events. I used Incident on a London Street as the opening
of our 1998 Blue and Gold. I wore a trenchcoat and snap-brim cap, and
had my yuounger son play the part of the unknown Boy Scout. Very effective.
Have fun with these!

Incident on
a London Street -- 1908

NARRATOR: It was a foggy
night in London, England, eighty-eight years ago, and an American businessman
and publisher from Chicago, William D. Boyce, was lost.

(Enter a scout in costume--overcoat,
bowler or derby, carrying briefcase).

NARRATOR: It had been a
long day, and now here he was -- after dark, in a strange city, looking
for a street address during one of London's famous heavy fogs.

(Scout pantomimes the narrative)

NARRATOR: Mr. Boyce stopped
and took out a street map and, after looking at it for a minute, scratched
his head and tried to get his bearings. It looked impossible, although
he knew he couldn't be very far from his destination. Mr. Boyce was almost
ready to give up and hail a hansom cab for a ride...

(Enter another Scout in
uniform)

NARRATOR: ...when a boy,
wearing some kind of strange uniform, appeared mysteriously out of the
fog and said, "May I help you, sir?" Mr. Boyce nodded gratefully and showed
him the address he was trying to find. "A piece of cake, sir," the boy
said. "It's not far. I'll be happy to show you the way."

(Scout leads "Mr. Boyce"
off, and they walk slowly around the stage, pretending to talk)

NARRATOR: The boy led Mr.
Boyce off. As they walked along, Mr. Boyce asked the boy about the uniform
he was wearing, and the boy told Mr. Boyce about a new organization for
boys, called Boy Scouting. It had been started the year before by a british
army general named Baden-Powell. Scouting had 5,000 boys in it the first
year, but now, less than 24 months later, 100,000 boys had joined.

Boy scouts stood for something,
the boy said--faith in God, love of family, friends, King and country,
belief in self-reliance and personal discipline, and the value of always
doing your best. Boy scouts also believed in doing a "good turn" daily.

After a short walk, they
arrived at Mr. Boyce's destination. Boyce reached into his pocket to give
the boy a coin for a tip, but the scout held up his hand and declined.
"No sir," he replied, "this was my good turn today. Good night." And the
boy disappeared into the fog, as mysteriously as he had appeared.

NARRATOR: Boyce was deeply
impressed by this incident, and the next day made an appointment with
General Baden-Powell. He returned to America a few days later with a trunk
full of uniforms and manuals, and a head full of ideas for starting scouting
in America.

And so, a little over a
year later, on February 8, 1910, a notice appeared in a Chicago paper,
announcing the incorporation of the Boy Scouts of America. Thousands of
scouts joined that first year--and the rest, as they say, is history.

Today we in this room are
part of a world wide movement, with almost 5 million boys and thousands
of adult leaders in this country alone. More than 90 million American
men have been scouts since 1910.

As for the mysterious English
boy scout--no one ever learned who he was, and his identity to this day
remains a mystery. But he lives on in the memories of millions of American
scouts, past and present. And in London today, outside Gilwell, the birthplace
of the world scouting movement, is a statue of a buffalo, put there by
American scouts, to honor and memorialize that unknown English boy scout.

Such is the power of a
single, simple good turn.

So boys, as we sit down
tonight for dinner with our friends and families and fellow scouts, it's
altogether right that we remember this incident, and also remember always
that we are part of something great, and important, and meaningful.

Opening --
Twelve New Things

ARRANGEMENTS: Have the large
cardboard badges with stands for each. Start with all laying flat and set
each one up in turn.

Alternate: Print and tape
these to the back of the approprite cards. Have a Scout of the appropriate
rank bring a card up to the front of the audience, read the paragraph
and then stand there until all cards have been read

TIGER: My
adult partner and I are having fun learning about the world around us
and Cub Scouts. We enjoy the motto Search, Discover and Share. I am a
Tiger.

BOBCAT:I
have learned five new things. I can give the Cub Scout Promise and the
Law of the Pack. I know what Webelos means. I promise to do my best. I
am a Bobcat.

WOLF:
I have learned twelve new thing. I grew physically and spiritually. I
developed habits and attitudes of good citizenship. As I grew in mind
and body, I also grew within my family. I learned to get along with others
and gained a sense of personal achievement. It is fun being helpful and
doing your best. I am a Wolf.

BEAR: I
too have learned 12 new things. They required more skill and effort, but
were fun and interesting. Many of the things I learned were preparing
me to be a Boy Scout. The electives started giving me ideas about hobbies
I might want to pursue in life. I am a Bear.

WEBELOS: I
am learning and understanding the requirements to become a Boy Scout.
The Scout Oath and the Scout Law, and the parts of the Scout badge. I
am learning about the outdoors through activities and the outdoor code.
I have earned three activity pins. I am a Webelos.

ARROW OF LIGHT:
I to am learning about the requirements to become a Boy Scout. I can repeat
from memory the Scout Oath and Scout Law. I have earned four more activity
pins. I have visited a troop meeting and talked with the Scoutmaster.
I have been on an overnight campout. I have attained the highest award
in Cub Scouting. I am The Arrow of Light.

FAMOUS AMERICAN
HEROS AND LEGENDS

GEORGE WASHINGTON

I was Commander of the
Continental Army during the American Revolution, and the first President
of the United States. I have been called the Father of our Country.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

I was a printer by trade,
but I was also a statesman and inventor. I was one of those who signed
the Declaration of Independence. I invented the Franklin Stove and Bi-Focal
Glasses. I also served as the first Postmaster General.

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS

I believed that the world
was round, but everyone called me a square. Only Queen Isabella of Spain
believed in my idea of sailing west to reach the east. On my first voyage
I accidentally discovered America while trying to sail to India.

DAVY CROCKETT

I was a frontiersman, a
congressman, and a patriot of Texas. I fought in the Indian Wars, but
was a champion of Indians' rights. I died in the Battle of the Alamo.

PECOS BILL

I can outride, outrope,
outrun, and outshoot any other varmint from Maine to Californy. One day
I was very thirsty, so I dug the Rio Grande river with a stick to get
water.

JOHN PAUL JONES

I was a Commodore in the
American Navy. I captured the British ship H.M.S. Seriphis in a sea battle
where I did NOT say "I have not yet begun to fight!".

PAUL BUNYAN

I was the biggest "lumberjack"
ever to live, and I created many different landmarks across this country.
One day I dragged my axe when I was tired, and that became the Grand Canyon.

JOHNNY APPLESEED

My real name was John Chapman.
I was an itinerant preacher who planted apple trees all over the country.

East (enters meeting area
from the east): "I am East. From me comes the sun each day, with its light
which all living things need. Just as I am the first direction, cub scouting
begins with the wolf."

South (enters meeting area
from the south): "I am South. From me come heat and rains, so all living
things might have warmth and water to drink. Just as I am the second direction,
cub scouting's second step is the bear."

North (enters meeting area
from the north): "I am North. From me come cold and snow, so all living
things might experience coolness and the beauty of winter. Just as I am
the third direction, cub scouting's third step is the webelos." West (enters
meeting area from the west): "I am West. To me the sun comes at the end
of each day, giving the world darkness so all living things might rest.
Just as I am the last direction, so the Arrow of Light is the last step
of cub scouting."

Chief Akela: "Brothers
East, South, North, and West--will you lead us in the Law of the Pack?"
(all nod, and raise the cub scout sign.)

'GATORS OPENING
FLAG CEREMONY FOR PACK MEETING

Here is something that my
Webelos Den used as an opening flag ceremony for a pack meeting. It was
adapted from one of the Cub Scout books, maybe "The How-To Book".

I divided it up for
five speakers, because I only had five who would participate. It can be
divided up for any other number of speakers that you have.

SPEAKER 1: Our country's
first official flag had 13 stars and 13 stripes, one star and one stripe
for each of the first 13 states. In 1795 two more states joined the union
and a new flag was made having 15 stars and 15 stripes. It was this new
flag, which Francis Scott Key called the "Star Spangled Banner", that
was flying over Fort McHenry when the British bombarded the fort during
the War of 1812.

SPEAKER 2: It was during
the latter part of August, 1814, that a Dr. William Beans was captured
by the British Army. Francis Scott Key, a young Baltimore lawyer, decided
to go to General Ross of the British army to plead for the release of
his friend.

SPEAKER 3: Going to Chesapeake
Bay where the British fleet was massed, Key was kindly received by the
British. General Ross consented to release Dr. Beans, but because the
British were planning an attack on Fort McHenry, held the American party
on the ship.

SPEAKER 4: The British
fleet poured a blazing shower of shells onto the fort all through the
night of September 13, 1814. Standing at the rail of the British battleship
during the bombardment, Key could see from time to time, by the glare
from the rockets, that the American Flag still flew over the Fort.

SPEAKER 5: It was at the
moment of "the dawn's early light", with the Flag still waving triumphantly
over the fort, that Francis Scott Key was inspired to write the poem that
became our national anthem.

Let us now welcome our
"Star Spangled Banner". Ladies and gentlemen, please stand for the flag
of the United States of America.

JUNGLE BOOK INVOCATION
FOR MEETINGS OF ADULT LEADERS

We approach
Thee, oh Great Akela of All the Packs, and ask Thee to join Thy love
for the Cubs with ours, making our efforts mighty.

Join with us in this effort
to (insert purpose of meeting) as we prepare to present the Cubs to Thee
at the Council Rock.

Grant us the patience of
Baloo, the great bear who taught Mowgli, as we teach the Cubs the Cub
Scout Promise and Law of the Pack.

Grant us the strength of
Bagheera, the panther who guarded Mowgli in the jungle, as we protect
the Cubs that have been entrusted to our care.

Grant us wisdom that we
may lead the Cubs away from the traps and pit falls of Shere Khan, the
evil tiger who would devour our Cubs.

Grant us insight that we
way lead the Cubs away from the idleness and disobedience of the Bandar-log,
the monkey people.

In all that we do, oh Great
Akela of all the Packs, help us to unify the Pack by strengthening each
Cub.

Help us do our Duty to
God and to our Country.

Provide us the opportunities
to help other people, and grant us your compassion so that we will recognize
those opportunities when they come.

Help us to obey the Law
of the Pack.

In all of this we can teach
the Cubs in our care by our example, which will speak louder than our
words.

In all, help us to do our
best.

Grant us success, we ask
__(if the group has a common religious composition, insert an appropriate
specific phrase here, such as "in Jesus' name")

AMEN

--- SHORT VERSION FOR
SMALL MEETINGS ---

We approach Thee, oh Great
Akela of All the Packs, and ask Thee to join Thy love for the Cubs with
ours, making our efforts mighty.

Join with us in this effort
to (insert purpose of meeting) .

Grant us the patience of
Baloo as we teach our Cubs.

Grant us the strength of
Bagheera, as we protect the Cubs that have been entrusted to our care.

Grant us wisdom that we
may lead the Cubs away from the evil of Shere Khan and the irresponsibility
of the Bandar-log.

Help us to do our best,
to do our Duty to God and to our Country.

Provide us the opportunities
to help other people and help us to obey the Law of the Pack.

In all of this we can teach
the Cubs in our care by our example, which will speak louder than our
words.

AMEN

The Six "Taters"

PERSONNEL: Awards Chairman,
six other adults.

PROPS: Signs to identify
the Awards Chairman and six "taters". Hold during ceremony.

CHAIRMAN: Scouters, this
is our problem. Every year hundreds of red blooded American boys drop
out of Scouting in our Council. We are meeting here tonight to do something
about this deplorable situation. Have you any suggestions?

DIC-TATER: Yes, I certainly
do have a suggestion! Just don't let them drop out; after all, the young
whippersnappers don't know what is best. As long as we are bigger and
stronger than they are, we can simply forbid them to drop out. A firm
hand will solve this drop out problem.

IMI-TATER: Well, Mr. Chairman,
that sounds a little rash. Why don't we look around and see what some
other groups are doing about this same sort of problem. Seems to me, we
could just adopt their plans. Those other organizations are doing quite
well, so it might behoove us to copy their tactics.

SPEC-TATER: Mr. Chairman,
perhaps we are trying to participate too much. Scouting is after all a
boy's organization. Let's just leave it up to the boys and let them work
out whatever solution they seem to think is best. We can sit back and
watch and let them know that we are behind them 100%.

AGI-TATER: NO! By Gussies,
we've got to get in there and fight! We've got to be on our toes with
our shoulders to the wheel, pushing at all times. We'll get the Chamber
of Commerce and the PTA and the local chapter of Sigma Phi working on
this. We'll have a membership rally and a big bonfire and really get things
stirred up.

HESI-TATER: Oh now, I don't
know. Maybe we ought to wait till after the summer slump and the fall
rush. Sometimes it's wise to use a little caution.

DEMONS-TATER: Mr. Chairman,
the best way to keep boys in Scouting is to show them what Scouting is
and what Scouting does. As proof of what I say, we have here tonight several
boys who have not paid much attention to our other "taters" and their
thoughts. We can show them what it's really like and the boys will want
to go on in Scouting and not drop out. The problem will cease to be.

ALL: And how! (Chairman
goes into standard ceremony.)

The Meaning
of the Colors Blue and Gold

CUBMASTER: Blue and Gold, the
Cub Scout colors stand for some of the good things Cub Scouts gain through
the process of advancement as they make progress through the ranks.

Gold stands for Good Cheer.
The boys here tonight who have learned the basics of Cub Scouting and
have earned their Bobcat badge are full of the good cheer of Cub Scouting.
Will these boys and their parents please come forward? (Call the names
of the boys receiving Bobcats - give the award to the parents to pin on
the boy.)

Gold stands for happiness,
and no one seems to be more full of happiness than these bright young
men, who have completed the twelve achievements necessary for the rank
of Wolf. Will these boys please come forward with their parents? (Call
names of boys receiving Wolf Badges and Wolf Arrows. Give awards to the
parents and have them present them to the boys.)

Blue, the other color of
Cub Scouting stands for truth. Truth begins to shine through strong on
the faces of these Cub Scouts, as they have completed the achievements
for the rank of Bear and have learned that Cub Scout Honor really is important
and truth is always the best. Will these boys please come forward with
their parents. (Call the names of the boys receiving Bear badges and Bear
Arrows. Give the badges to the parents to present to the boys.)

The other meaning for the
color Blue is loyalty. This is one of the most important traits a boy
can learn in the process of becoming a man. Loyalty to family, God, country,
friends, and the most important, loyalty to his beliefs and convictions.
There are many adults who do not display this trait, but the boys who
have progressed to the rank of Webelos have developed or are developing
this trait of loyalty. The boys who have earned honors as Webelos are:
(Call off names and at this time graduate boys into Webelos, award activity
pins, and also the Arrow of Light and graduate boys into Boys Scouts.
Just say a few words about the accomplishments of each boy. Honor the
Arrow of Light recipients and graduates into Scouting with more ado than
the activity badge recipients.)

These boys honored tonight
have been true to the Gold and the Blue by showing the traits represented
by our Cub Scout colors....Good cheer, Happiness, Truth and Loyalty. Let's
show them and their parents how much we admire their efforts with a Pack
cheer.

CUBMASTER: The Blue and
Gold Banquet is the time to celebrate the birthday of Scouting. Tonight,
as part of our celebration, some of our Cub Scouts will be recognized
for their accomplishments.

(Light the blue candle).
The blue candle represents the spirit of Cub Scouting.

(Call Cub Scout candidates
and parents forward). You have promised to do your best and to do your
duty. That is what you have done by completing the requirements to advance
in rank. You have earned the badge. (Present badges to parents to pin
on scouts shirt.)

(Use the blue candle to
light the yellow candle). The yellow candle glows representing the warm
sunlight. These Scouts have lived up to the Cub Scout Promise and completed
the requirements to earn the badge.

The red candle stands for
good cheer. These Scouts do not do anything half-heartily. They will be
awarded the badge tonight.

The light of the white
candle is the guiding light on the Cub Scout Trail. The light radiates
happiness. The following Cub Scouts have been guided by the light and
are on their way to the top of the Cub Scout Trail.

The Story
of the Cub Scout Colors

PERSONNEL: Akela, two Cub
Scouts dressed as Indian braves.
EQUIPMENT: A tripod with a large cooking pot suspended over a fire. A small
pot fits inside the large one and contains a yellow Wolf neckerchief and
a blue Bear neckerchief and awards. Dry ice may be packed around the small
pot to give a smoking effect (smoke increases as water is added ). Two small
clear bottles, one filled with diluted yellow food coloring and the other
with diluted blue coloring. An Indian headdress. Awards. ARRANGEMENT: The
audience is seated in a semicircle, and Akela is standing behind the boiling
pot.

NARRATOR: Many, many moons
ago the great chief Akela called a council to see what could be done to
make the Webelos tribe the best of all tribes. After many hours he called
his two most trusted braves to the council fire. (He pauses as two braves
come in and stand, one on each side of their chief.) He told the first
brave to climb the mountain and tell the great eagle to fly high into
the sky and bring back part of the beauty of the sun. (The first brave
leaves.) He told the second brave to go to the forest and tell the sparrow
to fly high into the sky and bring back part of the sky. (The second brave
leaves, and both return immediately. One carries a bottle of blue water
and the other a bottle of yellow water. They take positions, one on each
side of the fire, kneel, and hold bottles up for everyone to see.)

AKELA: (Addressing the
first brave.) Pour some of the beauty of the sun into our council mixing
pot. (The brave pours the liquid over the dry ice, being careful not to
get any in the small pot. Akela signals the second brave.) Pour some of
the beauty of the sky into our council mixing pot. (The second brave responds,
and the boiling action increases. Raising his right hand , Akela speaks
again.) From this day forward, blue will stand for truth and loyalty.
Yellow will stand for warm sunlight, happiness, and good cheer. (Akela
stirs the pot, reaches in, and pulls out the yellow and blue Cub Scout
neckerchiefs. He holds them open for all to see, and speaks.) And that
is why Cub Scouts use the colors blue and gold. Now let us meet the parents
and Cub Scouts who helped to keep the blue and gold of Cub Scouting alive
and growing this month. (Akela stirs the pot again and takes the awards
from the small pot. The boys and the parents are called forward and the
awards are presented.)

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